BRS Leaders Oppose New UGC Guidelines, Call for Federal Autonomy
Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders have strongly opposed the new University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, stating that they violate the federal spirit and undermine state authority over universities.
On Thursday, a delegation of BRS leaders, led by the party’s working president KT Rama Rao (KTR), met Union Human Resource Development Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. Speaking to the media, KTR criticized the proposed UGC regulations, stating that they weaken state rights and go against democratic principles.
According to the new guidelines, state governors would have full authority to appoint Vice Chancellors through search committees. KTR argued that this move interferes with state jurisdiction and reduces the autonomy of state-run universities. He called it an overreach by the Central government.
BRS leaders consulted education experts before presenting their concerns to the central government. KTR emphasized that giving governors complete control over state universities would undermine federalism and weaken the country’s democratic structure.
Another major concern raised by KTR was the introduction of a “No Suitable Candidate Found” clause in the recruitment process. He warned that this clause could be misused to bypass reservation policies for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Backward Classes (BC). He said such a move would violate the constitutional rights of marginalized communities and harm social justice.
Later in the day, KTR and other BRS leaders met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. At the request of Korutla MLA Dr. Sanjay, they urged the government to extend National Highway 365B from Vemulawada to Korutla. They also requested the construction of a Road-cum-Rail bridge over the Mid Manair Reservoir to improve connectivity between National Highway 63 and Korutla.
KTR highlighted the importance of these infrastructure projects, stating that they would enhance regional connectivity and boost economic growth in the area.
On the issue of defected MLAs, KTR stated that the party would consult legal experts to ensure their disqualification. He mentioned that people in Telangana were expecting by-elections soon, which he said would reflect the growing demand for political accountability and integrity in the state.
